Mid-Century Ranch Remodel and Expansion: The Bal Residence

The Bal Residence was designed by Berkeley-based studio Terry & Terry Architecture and is a mesmerizing wooden home, a result of a mid-century ranch remodel and expansion. The house occupies an area of 2,000 square feet and is located in Menlo Park, California, USA. According to the architects, the project was envisioned for a retired couple and has a very interesting layout: “ The addition comprises of two floating volumes. The first is the bedroom wing/volume, which is located on the west side of the house. The existing bedroom volume was extended toward the rear in the form of a wood tube to accommodate an additional bedroom. This bedroom volume opens out to the garden. The second volume, which comprises the main space, houses the kitchen, dining and media areas. The east wood wall plane of the main space folds onto two concrete walls to form the main roof plane.

These two wood volumes,. the “bedroom tube” and the “roof plane,” create a connection and openness to the garden by using transparency, clean minimal detail and simple materials. The main space produces large transparent openings or voids that open out onto a deck at the rear garden. The main roof plane extends forward to form the carport roof near the front of the property. A garden concrete wall stretches out from the media room toward the garden adjacent to a rear ramp and forms part of the cantilevered bench that echoes the concrete wall material in the main space.” We find this home diverse and highly appealing. Needless to say, we are looking forward to seeing your reactions as well.